Chapter: 717
About three years after marrying Mar, we finally set off on our honeymoon, just the two of us.
Saying that makes me feel like a bit of a deadbeat husband who neglected the family, but unfortunately, the fact that we’re only now taking this trip after three years doesn’t change. This is probably my karma.
Anyway, it was a sudden decision, but since I had previously taken Trixie on a “travel” trip to the Holy Kingdom, the other wives didn’t express any discontent. Plus, I promised the other wives we would go traveling together, so there was no reason to hesitate.
“We should have gone much earlier. I’m sorry for suggesting it only now.”
“It’s okay. It’s more important who I’m going with than when we go,” Mar replied, smiling broadly at my apology.
That made me incredibly grateful. If Mar had told high society, “Our husband suggested a honeymoon three years after we got married,” I would be known as the greatest deadbeat in the history of the Empire. I might have even felt the wrath of my angry father-in-law’s spicy punch!
Now that I’ve managed to relieve some of that heavy karma, I need to be careful not to repeat this mistake in the future.
“But, Carl, I’m happy to be anywhere with you, but why did you choose Jerano?”
“Oh, that?”
I scratched the back of my neck absentmindedly at Mar’s question.
The truth is, there’s no grand reason. Jerano is relatively close, a maritime nation specializing in transit trade, which has all sorts of tourist attractions and goods, plus, because of Leviathan’s activities, it has its head up its backside towards the Empire. As a result, it’s become much easier for Empire citizens to enter and operate in Jerano, making it a good choice for our honeymoon.
A tourist spot where we can be treated like royalty? What could be more enticing? It’s a place where we can enjoy the exotic atmosphere while feeling comfy like at home.
“I heard that His Grace the Gold Duke recently purchased a lovely resort in Jerano. Compared to his wealth, that resort is just dust, but if he’s bragging about it, I figured it must be worth checking out.”
However, in front of Mar, who was sparkling with excitement, I couldn’t just say, “Those guys are nothing, we can do whatever we want.” It’d be way too rude to dismiss the reason for our honeymoon as, “Those guys are pushovers.”
So, I took a page from the Gold Duke’s book. It’s true he was bragging about buying a nice resort earlier this year.
“Honestly, I’m really curious.”
If the Gold Duke is thrilled with that resort, it must be incredibly lavish and magnificent. I’d wager it’s among the best of the best across Jerano and maybe even the continent.
“It sounds amazing if His Grace is fond of it,” Mar said, her eyes shining, clearly intrigued.
Great! Now that the decision is made, let’s book the best room at the resort.
Even if the best room is fully booked, it doesn’t matter. If that happens, I can use the blank check the Gold Duke gave me when we found Leviathan.
All preparations for the Jerano trip went smoothly.
Since it was just the two of us, we didn’t need to pack a ton of stuff, and the Gold Duke’s resort had just completed renovations, so the best rooms were still available.
Of course, it’s normal for a resort frequented by nobles to get fully booked during renovations─
– They avoid offering every room for reservations to provide good rooms for special guests, you see.
The Gold Duke reserved some rooms exclusively for VVIPs.
It turns out that the majority of resorts or hotels don’t operate on a 100% reservation basis; they keep a few rooms as backdoor deals. I came to learn this only because of this trip. If it weren’t for this, I might have gone to my grave without knowing it.
– Since it’s a honeymoon, we ought to enjoy it luxuriously. If you wish, we could even arrange for the Leviathan to take you to the resort.
“Just the offer makes me grateful, but the Leviathan is the Empire’s trump card for maritime supremacy, right? I wouldn’t want to steal the Leviathan’s time for personal matters.”
– What a pity. If that’s the case, I will respect your wishes.
While there was an offer for a luxurious travel service from the Empire to Jerano, I turned it down because it seemed way too extravagant.
Jerano is already a nervous wreck from the Leviathan incident. To arrive riding the Leviathan feels more like an imperial governor’s entry rather than a couple’s honeymoon. I can’t handle that kind of future.
“Hey, Carl?”
“Yeah?”
As I imagined that horrible scenario of being the Governor of Jerano instead of the Minister, Mar gently tapped my shoulder.
“Oh.”
I couldn’t help but gasp in admiration when I turned around.
“Uh, what do you think? I thought of it out of the blue and brought it with me,” Mar said, blushing yet still not avoiding my gaze.
In her hand was a red swimsuit. It was the same swimsuit she wore back when she was a student at the Empire Academy, from the Boyar Principality.
Seeing it again hits a nostalgic sweet spot. It reminds me of those days when we hadn’t even exchanged rings yet—memories from a time when neither of us was skilled in love.
“Still have this?”
“Of course! It’s what I wore the first time I went to the sea with you. How could I ever throw away something so precious?”
Mar chuckled as she held the swimsuit close to her body, almost as if suggesting I imagine her in it.
“How about it? Do you think it would still look good on me?”
At that, I looked between Mar and the swimsuit, cracking a smile.
A question with such an obvious answer!
“You’ll only know for sure if you try it on.”
I lifted Mar into my arms like a princess, beaming as bright as I could.
“Shall we head to the room?”
That straightforward question—no, that request—made Mar’s face turn even redder. She was unable to respond to my request at all.
Of course, no answer is needed. Even if she had refused, I was already planning to go to the room anyway.
*
The Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a unilateral notification.
[ The Minister of the Inspection Department, Count Tailglehen, is coming to Jerano with his Countess. Since this is not for official business, please avoid contact. ]
It was a short notice but not lightweight at all.
As the minister of the Inspection Department, he’s one of the thirty imperial counts under the Livnoman imperial family and is nearly the second in command of the current Empire. While there are dozens of higher-ranking figures than the minister by title, a minister’s authority and power do not solely derive from their title.
Being heavily trusted by the current emperor and having the title of steward for the next emperor gives the minister the authority to oversee all nobility and officials in the Empire and an influence that stretches across the North. All these attributes combine to make the minister of the Inspection Department a formidable presence who cannot be treated lightly, even by dukes.
“What in the world is this?”
Thanks to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the notice with a great uproar. I, an external minister, even put off going home to mull it over.
The only saving grace was that it wasn’t an official visit. If the Empire’s second-in-command were officially visiting Jerano, we’d need to prepare a reception worthy of his status. That wouldn’t be a matter we could arrange in a short time.
However, ironically, it being a private visit became a disadvantage too. We had no idea what the minister’s true intentions were, and even if his actions raised questions, we couldn’t send people to him. Formally, the minister was coming as a private citizen.
“The Gold Duke just pressured our nation with the Leviathan a few months back. And now the minister of the Inspection Department is coming? Is this a coincidence?”
“I’m sure it’s an increase in pressure toward our nation. This isn’t just going to stop at re-negotiating the treaty; they’re clearly aiming for something beyond that.”
Perhaps that’s why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was wary of the minister’s visit.
“Well, does the Empire really need to pressure our country like this now?”
“When the Empire competed with the Gold Duke, the emperor remained silent. Why would the emperor take additional action against our country that already declared his surrender? The likelihood of that happening is low.”
“Besides, if they were going to apply pressure, they’d target the ocean, which is our country’s weak point. Having the minister charge in is an over-strategy.”
Even though the whole situation sent chills down my spine, half of the opinions remained that it was all coincidental.
Both arguments had their merits. Our country has been thoroughly flattened under the Empire due to the Leviathan incident. Pushing more pressure onto us would indeed be a valid course of action.
However, the Empire’s historical rival has always been Ainter. Even if relations between the Empire and Ainter have improved, Ainter remains the only nation with the power to threaten the Empire. I can’t see the Empire wasting administrative resources on our country when it shares a border with Ainter.
Since agreeing to change the treaty, it’s like the Empire tied a rope around our necks. They wouldn’t need to add another collar; we’d have to bow our heads in loyalty regardless.
“Could it genuinely be a coincidence?”
The intensely contested opinions gradually tilted towards coincidence.
Or maybe they were just wishing it was a coincidence. If the Empire truly came at us with genuine intent, we would have no means to counter it.
“The visit of the minister and his wife will be regarded as a private trip.”
In the end, after much deliberation, I came to a basic conclusion.
As the Empire’s notification stated, the minister and his wife were visiting for leisure. They were coming for strictly personal reasons.
“However, since it’s a fact that guests are visiting our nation, we must pay particular attention to security. I will seek cooperation from the Interior Minister and the Military Minister.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
That was a very formulaic result, so even the officials who had been fiercely debating nodded submissively.
Seeing that made me feel a tad bitter. Those who were so intense in their arguments suddenly went quiet. Were they just waiting for me to take responsibility and issue commands?
Naturally, I completely understand. What official would willingly shoulder the burden of a major matter? Plus, the position of the minister is there to be held accountable, so it’s only right that I carry the load.
“May this pass without incident.”
So internally, I prayed.
That the minister and his wife truly came to travel. That their journey would finish safely, leaving no accidents behind.
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